The oldest castle in Slovenia stands
on a sheer cliff above Lake Bled. It was first mentioned in writing in 1011,
when the German Emperor Henry II donated it to the Bishop of Brixen. It is
highly likely that, at that time, on the land where the castle stands today
there was simply a Romanesque tower surrounded by a protective wall. Additional
towers were constructed and the fortification system was perfected in the High
Middle Ages.

entrance

The entrance to the castle is particularly interesting due to its
Gothic arch and drawbridge across a now filled-in moat. Construction of the
castle complex was completed with the addition of various buildings in the
Baroque period.

The foundations of the castle are in two parts. The inner part comprises
residential quarters and a Gothic chapel, while the outer part consists of
administrative buildings, protected by a high Romanesque wall with defensive
battlements, an entrance tower and an implosive Gothic defensive tower.

entrance to the chapel on the upper
courtyard

The most interesting of the remaining buildings is certainly the chapel on the
upper courtyard, dedicated to the Bishop St. Albuin and to St. Ingenuin. It was
first constructed in the 16th century. Baroque elements and illusionist frescoes
were added around 1700. There are images of the donors of the Bled lands, the
German Emperor Henry II and his wife Kunigunda next to the altar.

Bled Castle Museum

Fragments of the collapsed Gothic arch are incorporated in the wall of the
neighboring building, which nowadays houses a museum. Numerous coats of arms,
either painted as frescoes or carved into the stone, embellish individual castle
buildings. After the roof of the castle had been destroyed by fire in 1947, and
during the first post-war archaeological excavations in Bled in 1948, the
National Museum suggested the conservation of the castle complex. Between 1951
and 1961 the castle was thus renovated and supplementary architectural details
were added.

Chapel

Bled Castle today attracts visitors with its age, the picturesque architecture
and an unforgettable view across Lake Bled and the wider area. The ancient
history of Bled and the different stages of the development of Bled Castle are
portrayed in the building next to the chapel. The ambience of the castle is
enhanced in summer months with the reception of the Lord of the Manor, as well
as an archery tournament. The castle herb gallery and printing press are also on
display.